Why We Write with Kim Ruehl, Eps. 1: Ani DiFranco

Ani DiFranco has released almost two dozen studio albums since her 1990 self-titled debut. That doesn’t count her many live and official bootleg recordings, her collaborations with Utah Phillips, and a couple of “greatest hits”-style recordings. Indeed, she has proven to be one of her generation’s most prolific and influential songwriters.

So, when it came time to launch a podcast for Folk Alley called Why We Write — where we’ll talk to great songwriters about songwriting — Ani DiFranco seemed like the perfect person with whom to start.

When we spoke, she was on the precipice of releasing her latest project, Revolutionary Love, where she goes deeper and further with the concept of “love” than most songwriters are willing to go. But going deeper and unpacking further—always via her life-and-emotion-nailing poetic lyricism—is one of the things DiFranco does best. Exactly why she feels called to write this way, is where we started our conversation.

Of course, you’re never in for light small talk with Ani DiFranco. So press play and settle in, and enjoy Why We Write.

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(Explicit language)

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